Desflurane Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 13, 2025.

Applies to desflurane: inhalation liquid, inhalation solution.

Serious side effects of desflurane

Along with its needed effects, desflurane may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking desflurane:

Other side effects of desflurane

Some side effects of desflurane may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Precautions

Your doctor will check you closely after receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Hyperkalemia may occur rarely after receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have confusion, irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or legs, or trouble breathing after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause malignant hyperthermia (high body temperature). Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have a fast heartbeat, high fever, or rigid muscles.

Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you had a heart rhythm problem, including QT prolongation.

Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, chills, dark urine, dizziness, fever, general tiredness or weakness, headache, itching, light-colored stools, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, upper right stomach pain, vomiting of blood, or yellow eyes and skin. These may be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

General anesthetics may cause some people to feel drowsy, tired, or weak. They may also cause problems with coordination and one's ability to think. Therefore, for about 24 hours (or longer if necessary) after receiving a general anesthetic, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to desflurane: inhalation liquid.

Respiratory adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Breath holding (27% in adults; 68% in pediatrics), laryngospasm (50% in pediatrics), cough (34%), apnea (15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngitis, apnea, cough, laryngospasm
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypoxia
• Frequency not reported: Respiratory arrest, respiratory failure, respiratory distress, bronchospasm, hemoptysis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (27%), salivary hypersecretion (21%), vomiting
• Frequency not reported: Acute pancreatitis, abdominal pain^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Nodal arrhythmia, bradycardia, tachycardia, hypertension
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, vasodilation, ECG abnormal, electrocardiogram ST-T change, electrocardiogram T wave inversion
• Frequency not reported: Cardiac arrest, torsade de pointes, ventricular failure, ventricular hypokinesia, malignant hypertension, hemorrhage, hypotension, shock, tachyarrhythmia, palpitations^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dizziness
• Frequency not reported: Seizures, encephalopathy^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Hepatic necrosis, cytolytic hepatitis, cholestasis, jaundice, hepatic function abnormal, liver disorder, alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Conjunctivitis
• Frequency not reported: Ocular icterus, eye burns, transient blindness, ulcerative keratitis, ocular hyperemia, reduced visual acuity, eye irritation, eye pain^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, ammonia increased^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Myalgia
• Frequency not reported: Rhabdomyolysis^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Frequency not reported: Urticaria, erythema, skin burning sensation^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Coagulopathy, coagulation test abnormal^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Agitation^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased creatinine phosphokinase
• Frequency not reported: Malignant hyperthermia, asthenia, malaise, migraine, fatigue^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Desflurane side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer